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Jacksonville high school baseball standout Javier Baez called up to big leagues by Chicago Cubs

In this June 2, 2011 file photo, Javier Baez, sits in the dugouit at Arlington Country Day School.

Javier Baez is bound for the big leagues.

The former Arlington Country Day slugger was called up by the Chicago Cubs on Monday afternoon and will join the team for its series opener against Colorado. Baez, a shortstop-second baseman, was batting .260 with 23 home runs and 80 RBI in 104 games at Triple A Iowa.

“I’m normally never lost for words, not one to show a lot of emotion, but here comes a moment like, ‘Wow,’ this is awesome,” said Baez’s former coach at ACD, Ron Dickerson. “... Only the best of the best end up having this moment. To know he’s part of that is surreal. You don’t know how to feel.”

He’s been on a collision course with the majors since being taken with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft and handling each level in the minors. His four-home run game at Class A Daytona on June 10, 2013 had fans clamoring for his big league arrival. He also belted a home run in last month’s minor league all-star game.

Only two area products have been taken straight out of high school higher than Baez — Bolles’ Chipper Jones (first to Atlanta in 1990) and Paxon’s Robert Weaver (sixth to Cleveland in 1968).